Need to Cool Off? Here’s Where to Find Relief Across Hampton Roads

With scorching temperatures across Hampton Roads reaching the upper 90s—and heat index values climbing as high as 110 degrees—local cities are opening their doors to help residents stay safe and cool.

Cooling centers are now available at various public spaces like libraries and community centers throughout the region. If you’re in need of a break from the heat, here’s where you can go:

Norfolk:

Residents can stop by any branch of the Norfolk Public Library, including the Barron F. Black, Blyden, Janaf, Jordan-Newby, Lafayette, Larchmont, Little Creek, Pretlow, Park Place, Van Wyck, and Slover branches. Additionally, Lambert’s Point and Norview community centers, along with the Salvation Army Hope Center on Raby Road, are also open.

Virginia Beach:

Cooling centers are set up in public libraries across the city, including Bayside, Great Neck, Kempsville, Central, Oceanfront, Princess Anne, Pungo-Blackwater, Windsor Woods, and the TCC/City Joint-Use Library. The Wahab Law Library is also available to the public.

Newport News:

Several libraries and public buildings are available for residents needing to cool down. These include the Main Street, Pearl Bailey, and Grissom libraries, as well as the Brittingham-Midtown and Denbigh community centers, the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center, and the Four Oaks Day Service Center.

Hampton:

The city has made numerous locations available, including all library branches, plus neighborhood and community centers like Fox Hill, Fort Monroe, Kenneth Wallace, Little England, Mary W. Jackson, Northampton, North Phoebus, Old Hampton, West Hampton, and Y.H. Thomas.

Portsmouth:

You’ll find relief at the city’s main library as well as the Cradock, Manor, and Churchland branches. Additional cooling locations include the Behavioral Healthcare building, Social Services, Senior Station, and City Hall lobby.

Suffolk:

Both the Morgan Memorial Library and North Suffolk Library are open as cooling stations.

Chesapeake:

A wide range of options are available, including the Central Library and its six additional branches—Cuffee, Greenbrier, Indian River, Major Hillard, Russell Memorial, and South Norfolk. Community centers like Deep Creek, Great Bridge, Indian River, River Crest, South Norfolk, and Western Branch are also open to the public.

For facility hours and additional details, check your city’s website or local listings.